Signaling and illuminating means for motor vehicles



9 y E. J. THURBER 2,218,442

SIGNALING AND ILLUMINATING MEANS on MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 31, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet l 51 w y a Til E. J. THURBER SIGNALIXG AND ILLUMINATINGMEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan."3l, 1938 I a Jfew/max Dru/wise.

' nrroAwsrs (Jet. 15, 1940. E. J. THURBER 2,

SIGNALING AND ILLUMINATING MEAN S FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 31, 19384 Sheets-Sheet 80 T6761 73 "Full Ebmww -Z THu Em Patented Oct. 15, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward John Thurber, New Orleans, La.Application January 31, 1938, Serial No. 187,943

7 Claims.

The present invention appertains to signal and compartment illuminatingsystems for motor vehicles or the like.

Heretofore it has been the practice to provide motor vehicles with theusual danger and turn signals which derive their illumination from aseparate source of light than that employed for illumination of interiorcompartment spaces of such vehicles. Illuminating systems have furtherbeen developed for illumination of danger signals, such as tail lights,of a construction so as to provide simultaneous illumination for theinterior space of luggage compartments or the like, usually positionedat the rear of such vehicles. However, such combined signal andilluminating means have not proven satisfactory in view of the fact thatthe opening of the door of the luggage compartment obstructed thevisibility of the signal lights. It is, therefore, the object of thepresent invention to provide a signal and illuminating system I ofdiversified function wherein single illuminating means for the variousdanger signals are employed which serve at the same time for effectiveillumination of the interior of a compartment space, such as theinterior of a luggage compartment without curtailing their signalingfunction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combinedsignal and compartment light structure, which employs a single source oflight for illuminating the tail signal of a motor vehicle, while, at thesame time illumination of the license plate, the space in rear of themotor vehicle, and of a compartment space of the vehicle is effected.

Another object of the present invention resides in novel electricsystemsfor operating such signal lights for various signaling purposes such asfor direction indications and for signaling the stopping of the vehicle,besides their other function already referred to above.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision ofcontrol instrumentalities and special circuit arrangements for effectingoperation of the combined signal and illuminating means in such a manneras to cause variations in the intensity of illumination of' such signalsto differentiate the same in respect to each other.

- Further and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following description and drawings, in which- Figure 1is a rear view of a motorvehicle having a compartment for the storage ofluggage or the like which is provided with' tail and signaling lightswhich serve also for interior illumination for said compartment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the rear portion of .a motor vehicle andthe illuminating and signaling means as illustrated in Figure 1, certainparts being broken away. 5

Figure 3 illustrates an electric wiring diagram for operating certain ofthe signaling and illuminating means as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view of the combined compartment and taillight as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating, however, the doorof the luggage compartment in an open position, the reflector of thecombined tail and compartment light being shown in position fordirecting light into the interior of the compartment.

Figure 6 is a sectional view disclosing a modified structure of acombined tail light and compartg0 ment light.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing still anothermodification of a tail light and compartment light construction providedwith a transparent member for protecting the bulb 25 mounted within thecombined tail light and compartment light.

figure 8 illustrates a. combined tail light and compartment lightstructure with a grille member for protecting the electric bulb of thesame. 30

Figure 9 is an elevational view .of the combined tail light andcompartment light structure, as illustrated in Figure 8, the view beingtaken in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 illustrates an electric circuit for 35 operating a pluralityof direction indicating lights combined with means for effectingillumination of theflinterior space of a compartment such as a luggagecompartment when the door of the latter is opened. 40

Figure 11 shows an electric wiring diagram for the combined tail lightand compartment light of the present invention which permits theutilization ofthe tail light as stop light.

Figure 12 is an electric wiring diagram for direction indicating andstop lights which may be also used in accordance with the presentinvention for interior illumination of a luggage compartment or thelike.

Figures 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of 5 the direction signalswitch of Figure 12, showing different positions of the same.

Now referring to Figures 1 and 2, l indicates the body portion of amotor vehicle which is provided with a rear compartment 2 for thestorage 55 ment light structure generally indicated at l,

which comprises a housing 8 provided with flange portions 9 and Hi. Theflange portion 9 is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding openingI l of the compartment door 3 and is secured to the la ter in anyconvenient manner.

The housing or casing 8 oi the combined tail light and compartment lightstructure l furthat provided with a plurality of openings l2, l3 and Hi,Within which lenses l5, l5 and H are positioned and secured to thecasing 8 in any desired manner. Adjacent to the lens l5 and forward ofthe same is an upstanding flange l8 which forms an integral part of thehousing 8, providing a carrier member for license plates or the likeattached thereto, in the usual manner.

Within the casing or housing 8 is mounted a reflector member l9 which ishinged to thecasing at 20. The reflector member i9 is provided with alamp socket 2! of usual construction which carries the electric bulb 22.The bulb 22 is so positioned within the casing 8 as to provideillumination for the license plate 23 through lens l5 While at the sametime lens il permits illumination in back of the motor vehicle. Lightpassing through the lens l6 provides the usual tail light as commonlyemployed in motor vehicles today.

When the luggage compartment door 3 is opened to a position as shown inFigure 2, the reflector IQ of the combined tail light and compartmentlight I may be swung to a position as indicated at 24 in Figure 2, toprovide illumination for the interior of the luggage compartment.

The flange portion 9 of the structure I is provided with a recess 25adapted to cooperate with the end 26 of the reflector is so as to holdthe same in closed position. For this purpose the free end 26 of thereflector I9 is, therefore, slightly resilient to snap into the recessor groove 25 when the reflector is moved to closed position.

Figure 6 illustrates a construction of a combined tail light andcompartment light similar to that as shown in Figure 4. However, in thisconstruction, the reflector l9 and lens ll have been omitted and thesocket 2| and electric bulb 22 have been mounted on the bottom portionof the casing 8'. In this form, the structure serves as a tail light anda compartment light, and also has the provision for the illumination ofa license plate, or the like, mounted upon flange l8 and adjacent tolens l5.

' Figure 7 illustrates another modification of a combined tail light andcompartment light structure, wherein a transparent plate 2i is mountedadjacent flange 9 and held in position thereto, by means of a retainingrin 21 secured to the flange 9 by means of screws 21''. The transparentmember 21 effectively prevents damage to the electric bulb 22.Otherwise, the construction as shown in Figure 7 is the same as shown inFigure 6.

In Figures 8 and 9, the casing 8 of thecombined tail light andcompartment light structure is provided with a grille member 28 whichmay be pref acrea e tion ring 80 is secured to the casing by means of 0screws lld as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Obviously,this construction offers the same advantages as referred to in regard toFigure 7, and efiective protection of the electric bulb 22 is providedby means of the grille 28.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a wiring diagram which shows theelectrical connections for the combined tail light and compartment lightabove referred to. From this figure, it will be seen that one terminal29 of the electric bulb 22 is connected with one of the terminals of thestorage battery 36 of the motor vehicle by means of conductors 3i and 32and interposed between the same is a switch 33 preferably mounted on theinstrument panel of the motor vehicle. The other terminal 33' of thebulb 22 is connected to the frame oi the motor vehicle by means ofconductor 3t, and likewise the other terminal of battery 3B is connectedto the frame by means of conductor 35. A secondary circuit 36interconnects conductors 3i and 32 and is provided with a compartmentdoor switch 31, see also Figure 2, for rendering the secondary circuit36 operative when the compartment door 2 is opened.

It will, therefore, be seen that upon opening of the compartment door 2,switch 3'6 is closed and current is supplied to electric bulb 22 so thatthe same will be illuminated to provide light for the interior space ofthe compartment 2. When the compartment door 3 is closed, switch 31 willbe opened and the flow of electric current will thereby be interrupted.By closing the switch 33, current will be supplied to the electric bulb22 which then functions as tail light and serves for illumination of thelicense plate and the space behind the motor vehicle.

Figure 11 illustrates a modified wiring diagram for the combined taillight and compartment light wherein provisions are made to permit theuse of the tail light, as a compartment light and also as stop light toindicate stopping of the motor vehicle when the brake pedal 38 isapplied to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The circuit arrangement of Figure 11 permits the operation of the bulb22 as tail light when the light on the instrument panel 39 is in serieswith the same. In this instance, the electric light 22 will not receivethe full voltage of six volts from the storage battery til, and will,therefore, not be as brightly illuminated as when the full voltage isapplied to the same, which will be the case when the light on theinstrument board is disconnected from the circuit. In this way adifference of brightness of illumination of the tail light 22 isproduced to indicate the stopping of the vehicle when the brake pedal 38is applied. To accomplish this end, one terminal of the battery 40 isconnected by a conductor M to a double pole switch 42 usually held incontact with contact member 43 by means of a spring 48. The contactmember 43! is connected by means of a conductor 45 to one terminal of aswitch 46 mounted on the instrument panel, whi e the other terminal ofswitch 46 is connected by means of conductor 41 to one terminal of thepilot light 39, also mounted on the instrument panel. The other terminalof the pilot light 39 is connected by means of conductor 48 with contact49 of a compartment door switch Contact of switch 58 is conductivelyconnected by means of conductor 52 with one terminal of the light 22while the other terminal of the light 22 is connected to the frame ofthe vehicle by means of conductor 53. The contact 54 of switch 42 isconnected by means of conductor 55 tothe conductor 48, thereby providinga secondary circuit for the operation of the electric bulb 22. Thecompartment door switch 50 comprises further the contact members 56 and51. The contact member 56 is connected to the conductor 52, while thecontact member 51 is connected to the conductor 4| by means of wire 58.The conductor 59 connects the other terminal of the battery 46 with theframe structure of the motor vehicle.

The operation of the circuit arrangement as shown in Figure 11 is asfollows:

When it is desired to illuminate bulb 22 to serve as a tail light,switch 46 on the instrument panel is closed. The switch 42 is normallyin a position as shown in Figure 11, and is held in this position by-aspring 44. Likewise, switch 56, which is the compartment door switch, isnormally in position as shown in this figure. It will, therefore, beseen that upon closing of the switch 46 as referred to above, thecurrent will flow from the battery 49 through conductor 4|, contact 42,contact 43, conductor 45, switch 46, conductor 41, instrument panellight 39, conductor 48. contacts 49'5|, conductor 52, electric bulb 22,conductor 53 and over the frame of the motor vehicle to conductor 59,and back to the other terminal of the battery 46.

The light 39 on the instrument panel as well as the light 22 whichfunctions now as a tail light will be illuminated. when the brakes ofthe vehicle are applied by operating brake pedal 38, the-same willengage the upstanding portion 66 of switch 42 and cause turning of theswitch 42 around its pivot 6!. The movable contact of switch 42 whichmay be designated as 42 is now brought into engagement with contact 54and the electric current will flow from the battery through conductor4|, contacts 42 and 54, conductors 55, 48, contacts 49 and 5|,throughthe electric bulb 22 without passing through light 39 on the instrumentpanel. The full voltage is now applied to the electric bulb 22 and thesame will be considerably brighter illuminated than heretofore, and inthis way by means of change of brightness of illumination a stop sig-.nal is given.

When the compartment door 3 is opened, contacts 56 and 51 of thecompartment door switch 59 are closed, while contacts 49 and 5| areopened and current is supplied to the bulb 22 through conductors 4|-58,contacts 5156,. and conductor 52 to cause operation of the same toilluminate the interior space of the luggage compartment. p

The closing of this latter circuit for interior illumination of theluggage compartment is not dependent upon the operation of switch 46 orswitch 42 and operation of, electric bulb 22 is effected independentlyof the positions of the switch members 42 and 46.

From the above, it will, therefore, be seen that when the wiring systemof Figure 11 is employed only a single light source is necessary, whichserves as a tail light, license platelight, stop light and compartmentlight. This arrangement diflfers considerably from prior art systems inview of its simplicity and provides a very'inexpensive and efiectiveillumination system for the purposes as herein desc bed.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the luggagecompartment 2' of the motor vehicle I is further provided with aplurality of direction signal lights generally indicated at 6| and 62.These directional signal lights are preferably mounted at both sides ofthe luggage compartment 2, as will be clearly seen from Figure andcomprise a housing 63, secured to the side 1 wall of the luggagecompartment 2 in any convenient manner as by welding or the like.

The housing 63 is in communication as shown at 64 with the interiorofthe luggage compartment 2, and is further provided with lenses 65 and66. Mounted within the housing of the signal lights 62 and 6| is anelectric bulb 61 positioned in such a manner as to provide illuminationof the interior of the compartment space of the luggage compartment 2 aswell as lenses 66 and 65.

Figure shows a wiring diagram for the direction signal lights 6| and 62,which serve also, as already mentioned above, for illuminating theinterior of the compartment space 2. These direction signal lights maybe further'operated incident to the operation of the brake pedal 68 asshown in Figure 10 for giving a stop signal if the brakes of the vehicleI are applied.

Figure 10 illustrates diagrammatically the wiring diagram for thesesignal lights and it will be noticed that the brake pedal 68 cooperateswith a three-pole switch 69 for purposes as will be hereinafterspecifically described.

18 illustrates a switch member mounted on the instrument panel of themotor vehicle and adapted to be manually operated to cause illuminationof the direction or turn signals 6| and 62, while switch 1|, which is ofa construction similar to switch 31, is provided for cooperation withthe compartment door 3 so as to cause operation of the electric bulbs 61and 61' of the signal lights 6| and 62, upon opening of the compartmentdoor 3 to a position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 to therebyilluminate the interior space of the compartment 2.

Referring now more specifically to the wiring diagram in Figure 10, itwill be noted that one of the terminals of the storage battery 12 isconnectedby means of conductors 13 with contact 14 of the three-poleswitch 69.

While one contact of the electric bulbs 61 and 61 is connected by meansof conductors 15 and 16 to contacts 11 and 18 respectively of thethreepole switch 69, the opposite contacts of the bulbs 61 and 61 areconductively connected by means of wires 19 and 80 to the frame of themotor vehicle, and likewise, the other terminal of the storage battery12 is connected to the frame by means of conductor 8|. It will,therefore, be seenthat when the brake pedal 68 of the motor vehicle isdepressed, and the brakes are applied, contact member 82 of thethree-pole switch 69 will interconnect contacts 14--11 and 18 of thesame, causing operation of the signal lights 6| and 62 which nowfunction as stop indicating lights.

Interposed between conductors 15, 16 and 13 is the turn signal switch10, which comprises contact members 16'15- and '16. If the driver of thevehicle desires to turn to the left, switch 10 is manually operated soas to connect the contacts 10' and 16' which will cause operation of thesignal light 62 positioned at the left side of the luggage compartment 2while a right turn of the motor vehicle may be indicated by the driverof the same manually by operation of switch 10 in a reverse directionfrom that described heretofore so as to connect contacts 10' and 15'which will cause signaling operation of the light 6|.

A secondary circuit 83 which comprises a conductor 84 connected toconductor 13 and the conductors85 and 86 permits operation of the lights6| and 62 when switch H is closed. Switch II, as already mentionedabove, is operated by the compartment door 3 so as to establish contactbetween conductors 84, 85 and 86 when the compartment door is opened.The closing of the secondary circuit 83 to cause operation of the lights6| and 62 for interior illumination of the compartment 2 is entirelyindependent of the operation of the remaining parts of the circuit.

. It will, therefore, be seen that when the compartment door 3 isopened, the interior of the compartment 2 will be illuminated and at thesame time lights 6| and 62 will function as danger lights for thepurpose of warning on-coming trafllc.

A further advantage in operating the signal lights 6| and 62 forpurposes as herein described, resides in the fact that when thecompartment door 3 of the luggage compartment 2 is opened, these lightsare not obstructed by the door 3 and can be readilyoperated to warnon-coming traffic. On the other hand, when vehicle I is only providedwith a combined tail light and compartment'light I, as shown in Figure2, the door 3 of the compartment when in open position will obstruct thetail light 1 which in such case can not be seen from the rear of thevehicle even though the reflector I9 of the tail light has been opened.

Figure- 12 illustrates diagrammatically another circuit system foroperating the directional lights- The em- I Gland 62, as illustrated inFigure 1. ployment of the circuit of Figure 12 permits the utilizationof lights 6| and 62 as tail lights, directional signal lights, stoplights, and compartment, lights, in a very eflicient and simple man-I181;

It will beseen that the electric wiring system of Figure 12 comprises,so to speak, three circuits, namely, the stop light circuit 81, thedirection and tail light circuit 88, and the compartment light circuit89. These three circuits are interconnected and cooperatively related toperform the various illuminating and signaling functions referred toabove.

Referring to this illuminating system more specifically, and describingfirst the stop light circuit, it will be noted that the storage battery90 of the motor vehicle is connected by means of conductors 9| and 92 toone terminal 93 of a brake pedal switch 94, while the contacts and 960ithe brake pedal switch 94 are connected with the signal lights 6| and 62by means of conductors 91, 98, and 99 and I00, respectively. The

signal lights 6| and 62 are connected to the frame of the motor vehiclethrough conductors |0| and I02, while the opposite terminal 9| of thestorage battery 90 is also connected with the frame of the motor vehicleby means of conductor I03.

The brake pedal switch 94 is normally held in the position as shown inFigure 12, by a spring I 04, so that the contact blade 93 is normallyheld out ofcontact with switch contacts 95 and 96.

Upon operation of the brake pedal I05, switch arm I06 for the brakepedal switch 94 is operated to cause a downward movement of the switchblade 93 to thereby connect contacts 95 and 96 with the latter. Thiscauses simultaneous closing of the two stop light circuits 91, 98

fore, effect the operation of signal lights 6| and.

62 to warn following traffic that the brakes have been applied. The taillight and directional signal light circuit 88 comprises a conductor I01connected to contact I08 of the brake pedal switch 94 and leading to oneterminal of the instrument panel light I08, while the other terminal ofthe same is connected by means of conductor I09 to contact H0 of adirectional and tail light switch III. Contact H2 of the switch I II isconnected by conductor I I3 to the conductor 98 leading to signal light62.

In a like manner, contact H4 of the brake pedal switch 94 is connectedwith the instrument panel pilot light H5, contacts H6 and H1 of theswitch III, and conductor I00, which leads to the signal light 6|.

Another contact H8 ofthe direction and tail light switch III isconnected with conductor I01 by means of wire H9. Assuming now that theswitch III is in a position as shown in Figure 12, in which it will bewhen it is set for night driving, current will be supplied to the signallights 6| and 62 from the battery over th contacts I08 and H4 andconductors 98 and I00 respectively. The current will flow through theinstrument panel lights I08 and H5 illuminating the same in addition tothe illumination of the signal lights GI and 62 as will be quite obviousfrom Figure 12.

to a position as shown in Figure 13, whereby contact 'II8 isfconnectedwith conductor I 00 while all of the other remaining contacts of theswitch III are moved to open position. It will, therefore, be seen thatwith the switch I I I in 'the position as shown in Figure 13, currentwill flow from the storage battery 90 over the brake pedal switch 94,contact'l08, conductors I01I I9, contact |I8 of the direction and taillight switch I I I, conductor I00, signal light 6|, through conductor|0I to the chassis of the motor vehicle and back over the same andconductor I03 to the storage battery. The directional signal light 6|will be illuminated and warn the following traffic that the operatorintends to make a right turn.

If a left turn indication is desired, switch II I is manuallyoperated inan opposite direction from that described above, so that the contact H8of switch III will connect the conductor 3 and signal light 62 with thesource of electric energy. In this instance, illumination of the leftsignal light 62 is effected, and a left turn signal is thereby given.

As mentioned above, switch III as shown in tail lights are not asbrightly illuminated aswhen switch I I I is turned to positions toindicate either a left or right turn of the motor vehicle, at whichinstance the respective light at 6| or 62 will be illuminated muchbrighter because the instrument panel pilot lights I08 and H5 are atsuch time not in series with their respective directional signal lightsGI and 62. In this way, a

distinctive characteristic of visibility between the signal lightswhenserving as tail lights or directional lights is attained.

During the daytime, switch III is placed in a position as shown inFigure 14, wherein all contacts between this switch and its cooperatingconductors are interrupted. In other words, with the switch in theposition as shown in Fig--. ure 14, the instrument panel lights and thetail lights are turned 011 and only the operation of the brake pedal I05and brake pedal switch 94 will effect operation of the signal light GIand 62 to function as stop signal lights. to be given during the daytime, switch III is moved from its position as shown in Figure 14, so asto bring its contact II 8 in connection with conductor I I3 or I to giveeither a left or right turn signal. When the signaling operation iscompleted, switch III is returned to its position, as shown in Figure14.'

A. compartment switch I2I is further provided and cooperativelyassociated with the wiring diagram as shown in Figure 12, so as to causeillumination of the signal lights and-62 upon opening of the compartmentdoor 3 of the motor vehicle, at which instance, these signal lightsfunction to illuminate the interior compartment space of the compartment2, in the manner previously referred to more in detail herein.

For carrying out this function, contacts 95 and 96 of the brake pedalswitch 94 are also connected by means of conductors I22 and I23 with thecontacts I24 and I 25 respectively of the compartment switch I2I.

The third contact of the compartment switch I2 I, designated I26, isconnected to conductor 9I by means of wire I21. switch I2I is such thatupon opening of the compartment door 3 of the motor vehicle, the contactI26 connects with contacts I24 and I25 to thereby close the circuits forthe signal lights 6| and and provide also danger signals for oil-comingtraflic substantially in the same manner and for the purposes as setforth hereinbefore.

It will, therefore, be seen that when the compartment door 3 is openedand the switch I2I closes, current will flow from storage battery 90over conductors 9|, I21, contact I28 to contact I25, through conductorsI23, 99, I00, to signal light 6|, while, the current will also flow fromthe contact I26 to conductor I24 and through conductors I22, 91, 98 tosignal light 62. The other terminals of the signal lights GI and 52 andthe battery 90, are connected to the frame, and the return flow of thecurrent takes place over tioned.

If turn signals are The construction of the r It will. therefore, beseen that the opening of the compartment door 3 causes immediateillumination of the compartment and signal lights BI and 62substantially as set forth hereinbefore.

It should be noted further that while the stop signal circuit 81 and thedirectional and tail light circuit 88 are cooperatively interrelated,the operation of the brake pedal I05 will interrupt the flow of currentto the directional and tail light circuit, and will apply full voltageto the signal lights BI and 62 to function as stop lights. It isimmaterial in which position the switch III may be at this time. Inother words, the proper'functioning of the stop lights is at all timesobtained no matter in which way the remaining parts ofthe generalcircuit of the Figure 12 have been conditioned or operated.

From the above, it will, therefore, be observed that the circuitarrangement of Figure l2 permits a diversified operation of the signallights GI and 62 in a very simple manner, especially in view of thefact'that only those two signal lights are necessary cooperating in sucha manner as to permit the production of the various signaling effects,as described herein. The circuit is of a rather unique construction inthat the brake pedal switch. 94 is interposed between the direction andtail light circuit and the stop light circuit in such a manner as'toconnect or disconnect the instrument panel pilot lights with or from thesignal lights 6| and 52. In other words, the switch 94 permits operationof two interrelated circuits of different voltage.

While reference has been made in the preceding description only tooperation of the various circuits by means of a brake pedal andassociated switch devices, it must be understood that any otheroperating means may be used in lieu of the brake pedals HIS-39 or 68,such as an accelerator pedal or the like. Likewise, the signals to begiven may be made dependent upon the acceleration or deceleration of theengine of the motor vehicle; or the operation of the various signals maybe made dependent upon any other functions as will be obvious to thoseskilled in the ar claim as .new and desire to secure by Letters- Patentof the United States is:

1. In a signaling and illuminating system for motor vehicles having acontrol member operable incident to deceleration of the vehicle andhaving a rear luggage compartment including a door to open and closesaid compartment, a light fixture having a single electric light bulb,said fixture being fixed at the side of the vehicle adjacent to theluggage compartment and opening into the interior of the compartment forinterior illumination of the compartment, said light fixture alsoserving as signaling means visible from the rear at least of the vehicleirrespective of the position of the luggage compartment door, a sourceof electrical potential, an electrical circuit 'operatively connectingthe source of potential to the electric light bulb aforesaid, saidelectrical circuit including means controllable by the vehicle operatorfor energizing the light bulb with a distinctive characteristic ofvisibility toconstitute a taillight and also at-thesame time constitutea luggage compartment illuminating light, and additional circuit meansoperable responsive to the control member of the vehicle independent- 1yof the first-mentioned means controllable by the operator for energizingthe electric light bulb with a characteristic of visibility differingfrom the tail light to constitute a stop signal.

2. In a signaling and illuminating system for motor vehicles having acontrol member operable incident to deceleration of the vehicle andhaving a rear luggage compartment including a door to open and closesaid compartment, a pair of light fixtures eachhaving a single electriclight bulb, said fixtures being respectively fixed at the sides of thevehicle adjacent to the luggage compartment and opening into theinterior of the compartment for interior illumination of thecompartment, said light fixtures also serving as signaling means visiblefrom the rear at least of the vehicle irrespective of the position ofthe luggage compartment door, a source of electrical potential, anelectrical circuit operatively connecting the source of potential toeach of the light bulbs aforesaid, said electrical circuit includingmeans controllable by the vehicle operator Ior selectively energizingthe individual light bulbs with one distinctive characteristic ofvisibilty to constitute direction signals, and said means beingalternatively controllable by the vehicle operator for. simultaneouslyenergizing both light bulbs with another distinctive characteristic ofvisibility, difiering from the direction signals, to constitute taillights, and additional circuit means operable responsive to the controlmember of the vehicle independently of the means controllable by theoperator for simultaneously energizing both of the light bulbs with acharacteristic of visibility differing from the tail lights toconstitute a stop signal.

3. In a signaling and illuminating system for motorvehicles having acontrol member operable incident to deceleration of the vehicle andhaving a rear luggage compartment including a door to open and closesaid compartment, a pair of light fixtures each having a singleelectriclight bulb, said fixtures being respectively fixed at the sidesof the vehicle adjacent to the luggage compartment and opening into theinterior of the compartment for interior illumination of thecompartment, said light fixtures also serving as signaling means visiblefrom the rear at least of the vehicle irrespective of the position ofthe luggage compartment door, a source of electrical potential, anelectrical circuit operatively connecting the source of potential toeach of the lights bulbs aforesaid, said electrical circuit mcludingmeans controllable by the vehicle operator for selectively energizingthe individual light bulbs with one distinctive characteristic ofvisibility to constitute direction signals, and said means beingalternatively controllable by the vehicle operator for simultaneouslyenergizing both light bulbs with another distinctive characteristic ofvisibility, diflering from the direction signals, to constitutetaillights, auxiliary circuit means operable responsive to opening ofthe luggage compartment door for energizing both'light bulbsindependently of the first-mentioned means controllable by the operator,whereby to illuminate theluggage compartment, and additional circuitmeans operable responsive to the control member of the vehicle forsimultaneously energizing both of the light bulbs with a characteristicof visibility difiering from the tail lights to constitutea stop signal.

4. In a signaling and illuminating system for motor vehicles having acontrol member operable incident to deceleration of the vehicle andhaving a rear luggage compartment including a door to open andclose saidcompartment, a pair of light fixtures each having a single electriclight bulb capable of emitting light of difierent intensities, saidfixtures being respectively fixed to the vehicle at opposite sidesthereof adjacent to the luggage compartment and opening into theinterior of the compartment'for interior illumination of the latter,said light fixtures also serving as signal means visible from the rearat least of the vehicle irrespective of the position of the luggagecompartment door, a source of electrical potential, switch-controlledelectrical circuit means operatively connecting the source of potentialto each of the electric light bulbs of the light fixtures and operableto selectively energize the individual light bulbs as direction signalsat a relatively high light intensity, and alternatively operable tosimultaneously energize both light 1, bulbs at relatively low lightintensity as tail lights, f auxiliary switch-controlled circuit meansalso connected to the source of potential and operable responsive toopening and closing of the luggage compartment door aforesaid forrespectively energizing and deenergizing both light bulbs independentlyof the first-mentioned switch-controlled circuit means, and additionalcircuit means operable responsive to the control member of the vehiclefor simultaneously energizing both light bulbs at relatively high lightintensity as a stop signal.

5. In a signaling and illuminating system for a motor vehicles having acontrol member operable incident to deceleration of the vehicle andhaving a rear luggage compartment including a door to open and closesaid compartment, a pair of light fixtures each having asingle electriclight bulb capable of emittingg light of diiferent intensities, saidfixtures being respectively fixed to the vehicle at opposite sidesthereof adjacent to the luggage compartment and opening into the in-'terior of the compartment for interior illumination of the latter, saidlight fixtures also serving as signal means visible from the rear atleast .of the vehicle irrespective of the position of the luggagecompartment door, a source of electrical potential, a pair of circuitsconnecting the source of potential to the respective light bulbs, eachcircuit of said pair of circuits including an element intermediate thesource of potential and the light bulbs for reducing the potential atthe light bulb, switch means accessible to the vehicle operator andinterposed in said pair ofcircuits intermediate the elements aforesaidand the light bulbs, said switch means having one position establishingan operative circuit to both light bulbs through the potential reducingelements, thus energizing both light bulbs simultaneously at relativelylow light intensity as tail lights, said switch means also having otherpositions selectively establishing an operative circuit to therespective light bulbs while excluding the potential reducing elements,thus selectively energizing the individual light bulbsat relatively highintensity as direction signals, auxiliary circuits having switch meansoperable responsive to opening and closing of the luggage compartmentdoor for establishing an operative circuit from the source of potentialto the respective light bulbs and serving to simultaneously energizeboth light bulbs, independently of the first-mentioned circuits andswitch means, at relatively high light intensity, for compartmentillumination, and additional switch means for controlling said auxiliarycircults responsive to the vehicle control member,

ously at relatively high light intensity as stop lights.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the last-mentioned additionalswitch means is interposed between the source of potential and thefirst-mentioned pair of circuits and normally serves to establish aconnection between the source of potential and ,the pair of circuitsfirstmentioned, and also serves to interrupt said connection when thevehicle control member is operated incident to deceleration of thevehicle.

I. In a signaling and illuminating system tor motor vehicles having arear luggage compartment including a door to open and close saidcompartment, a pair or light fixtures each having a single electriclight bulb, said fixtures being respectively fixed at the sides of thevehicle adjacent to the lu 'sase compartment and opening into theinterior of the compartment for interior illumination of thecompartment, said light fixtures also serving as signaling means visiblefrom the rear at least of the vehicle irrespective of the position ofthe luggage compartment door, a source of electrical potential, anelectrical circuit operatively connecting the source of potential toeach of the light bulbsaforesaid, said electrical circuit includingmeans controllable by the vehicle operator for selectively energizingthe individual light bulbs with one distinctve characteristic ofvisibility toconstitute direction signals,. and said means beingalternatively controllable by the vehicle operator for simultaneouslyenergizing both light bulbs with another distinctive characteristic ofvisibility, difiering from the direction signals, to constitute taillights.

EDWARD JOHN THURBER.

